Former Seattle Mariners in line to play major roles in 2015 postseason

Only a miracle over the final three weeks of the regular season would jolt the Mariners into the playoffs.

But it’s easy to find former Mariners playing prominent roles for other teams bound for the postseason.

The joke goes that you could build a playoff roster with former Mariners who went elsewhere and thrived.

It’s not far from the truth.

Such is the level of frustration for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001. It’s the second-longest postseason drought in Major League Baseball, though it will likely become the longest in October when the Toronto Blue Jays make it for the first time since 1993.

The failures of the 2015 Mariners have been examined at length. Nobody expected the bullpen to take such a massive step back. Few saw Robinson Cano struggling through the first couple of months of the season. And the starting rotation has been positively mediocre, entering Tuesday with a 4.21 ERA (17th in MLB) despite playing home games at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Though the Mariners (70-75) began Wednesday 9-5 in September, they trail the Houston Astros by 7.5 games for the second American League wild card.

As they continue descending toward irrelevance, former players still have meaningful games left. And wouldn’t you know it, a majority are playing well after flaming out in Seattle or being traded/waived/become free agents. Even a few guys not set to star in October are having big seasons.

<b>OF/INF Dustin Ackley</b><br /><br/>The Mariners selected Ackley out of North Carolina with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 MLB amateur draft. He quickly ascended the organization’s minor league ranks, making his big-league debut in 2011 to great fanfare. He actually posted a .273/.348/.417 slash in 90 games that year as a rookie, then struggled to put together any consistent offensive production until the Mariners traded him to the New York Yankees on July 30 for a pair of prospects.
A few days after the trade, Ackley went on the 15-day disabled list with a right lumbar strain, but since returning earlier this month has gone 5-for-15 (.333 batting average) and appears in line to get some starts at first base because Mark Teixeira is out for the year with a left leg fracture. less

<b>OF/INF Dustin Ackley</b><br /><br/>The Mariners selected Ackley out of North Carolina with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 MLB amateur draft. He quickly ascended the organization’s minor league ranks, ... more

Photo: Adam Hunger / Getty Images

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<b>CF Austin Jackson</b><br /><br/> After coming over from Detroit at the 2014 non-waiver deadline as part of the deal that sent David Price to the Tigers, Jackson struggled during his first two months in Seattle, hitting .229 in 54 games. The Mariners were in need of offense, and Jackson didn’t provide much, as Seattle finished the season one game back of the second AL wild card.
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It marked a rough start for the former top prospect in the Yankees organization. But to his credit, Jackson was much better with the Mariners in 2015 (.272/.312/.386 slash) while playing a solid center field. But when the organization realized it had only a flickering shot of making the playoffs, Jackson, a free agent this offseason, was dealt to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named and international slot money.
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He began Tuesday hitting .250 in 11 games with Chicago, but could play a prominent for the Cubs as they look primed for a postseason run. less

<b>CF Austin Jackson</b><br /><br/> After coming over from Detroit at the 2014 non-waiver deadline as part of the deal that sent David Price to the Tigers, Jackson struggled during his first two months in ... more

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<b>RHP Fernando Rodney</b><br /><br/>Guess who’s back? In seven appearances with the Cubs, Rodney is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA across 5-2/3 innings. It’s a small sample, but it’s better than his 2015 in Seattle, where he went 5-5 with a 5.68 ERA over 54 appearances and lost his closer job. He genuinely looked like a broken man, putting on a shell of the All-Star performance he had in 2014.
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The Cubs began Tuesday 6 ½ games in front of the San Francisco Giants for the second NL wild card, so there’s a chance Rodney could actually pitch in the postseason. A month ago, that seemed unfathomable, but the Mariners designated Rodney for assignment in August before trading him to the Cubs for cash considerations. less

<b>RHP Fernando Rodney</b><br /><br/>Guess who’s back? In seven appearances with the Cubs, Rodney is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA across 5-2/3 innings. It’s a small sample, but it’s better than his 2015 in ... more

Photo: David Banks / Getty Images

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<b>LHP J.A. Happ</b><br /><br/> Hoping to solidify the back of their rotation, the Mariners traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays this past offseason in exchange for Happ. While Saunders has had another injury-plagued season, Happ was unremarkable in Seattle, going 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 21 games (20 starts.) He was included in the flurry of M’s trade deadline moves, getting sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Triple-A pitcher Adrian Sampson.
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In seven starts with the Pirates, Happ is 5-1 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. Because of course he is. less

<b>LHP J.A. Happ</b><br /><br/> Hoping to solidify the back of their rotation, the Mariners traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays this past offseason in exchange for Happ. While Saunders ... more

Photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images

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<b> INF/DH Alex Rodriguez </b><br /><br/>The Yankees are locked in a tight race with the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League East title, and A-Rod has been a big part of their success after returning to the lineup this season after being suspended 162 games for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
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Rodriguez, 40, obviously isn’t the dynamic athlete he used to be. And he will likely never be inducted to the Hall of Fame because of his involvement with performance-enhancing drugs. He’s still hated. But he can still hit. In 2015, he has 31 home runs, 82 RBIs and an .860 OPS over 132 games. less

<b> INF/DH Alex Rodriguez </b><br /><br/>The Yankees are locked in a tight race with the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League East title, and A-Rod has been a big part of their success after returning to ... more

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<b>DH/1B Kendrys Morales</b><br /><br/> Morales was another underperformer who kept Seattle from making the playoffs last season. After a productive 2013, he turned down a three-year, $30 million offer from the Mariners, then remained a free agent and didn’t sign with the Minnesota Twins until June. Determined to find offensive help, the Mariners traded right-hander Stephen Pryor to Minnesota at last year’s non-waiver deadline in exchange for Morales.
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He rewarded them by batting .207 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 59 games.
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He signed a two-year, $17-million deal with the Kansas City Royals over the offseason and has driven in a team-high 101 RBIs with an .825 OPS and .291 batting average. Naturally. less

<b>DH/1B Kendrys Morales</b><br /><br/> Morales was another underperformer who kept Seattle from making the playoffs last season. After a productive 2013, he turned down a three-year, $30 million offer from ... more

Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images

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<b>C Welington Castillo</b><br /><br/> We could mention that Castillo has become the second coming of Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez since the Mariners traded him to the Diamondbacks in June, but now-unemployed Jack Zduriencik has already suffered enough. Plus, Mark Trumbo and Vidal Nuno, who came to Seattle in the trade, have been productive since donning a Mariners uniform. less

<b>C Welington Castillo</b><br /><br/> We could mention that Castillo has become the second coming of Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez since the Mariners traded him to the Diamondbacks in June, but now-unemployed Jack ... more

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<b>RHP Erasmo Ramirez</b><br /><br/> Ramirez, 25, was a disaster for the Mariners last season while getting jostled between the big leagues and minors. He made 17 appearances (14 starts) for the Mariners and rarely looked the part of a big-league pitcher, posting a 1-6 record and 5.26 ERA. When Ramirez failed to distinguish himself in spring training, they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for left-hander Mike Montgomery. On Monday night, Ramirez carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Yankees before giving up a single to Carlos Beltran and eventually settling for a no-decision. In 2015, Ramirez has been the reliable starter Seattle initially envisioned, going 10-5 with a 3.75 ERA. less

<b>RHP Erasmo Ramirez</b><br /><br/> Ramirez, 25, was a disaster for the Mariners last season while getting jostled between the big leagues and minors. He made 17 appearances (14 starts) for the Mariners and ... more

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<b>DH David Ortiz</b><br /><br/> There have been many dreary days in Mariners lore, but Sept. 13, 1996 deserves its own plaque. That was when the organization sent a prospect named David Arias to the Minnesota Twins to complete a trade made a few weeks earlier for third baseman Dave Hollins. Arias, of course, eventually changed his name to David Ortiz and became one of the best hitters of his generation in a wildly productive stay with the Boston Red Sox. Hollins played 28 games for Seattle, hitting .351 before becoming a free agent the next offseason. The photo above shows Ortiz hitting his 500th home run last weekend. It's fair to wonder how many he would have if he'd been stuck in Seattle. less

<b>DH David Ortiz</b><br /><br/> There have been many dreary days in Mariners lore, but Sept. 13, 1996 deserves its own plaque. That was when the organization sent a prospect named David Arias to the Minnesota ... more

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<b>CF Adam Jones</b><br /><br/> Next.

<b>CF Adam Jones</b><br /><br/> Next.

Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images

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<b> RHP Mark Lowe</b><br /><br/> Lowe was the most dominant member of the M's 'pen before Zduriencik sent him to the Toronto Blue Jays at the non-waiver trade deadline for three pitching prospects. He's 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 appearances with the Blue Jays since the deal, and should figure heavily into their bullpen rotation when October rolls around. less

<b> RHP Mark Lowe</b><br /><br/> Lowe was the most dominant member of the M's 'pen before Zduriencik sent him to the Toronto Blue Jays at the non-waiver trade deadline for three pitching prospects. He's 1-1 ... more

Photo: Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

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<b> OF Justin Ruggiano</b><br /><br/> Ruggiano never got much of a chance in Seattle after the club traded Matt Brazis to the Cubs in exchange for the veteran last December. Despite decent plate discipline and being a solid defender, Ruggiano was designated for assignment after hitting .214 in 36 games. He cleared waivers and caught on with Triple-A Tacoma, hitting well in the Pacific Coast League, before getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of August. Ruggiano, of course, has been a revelation in L.A., going 8-for-19 (.421 batting average) with three homers and 10 RBIs in his first eight games. less

<b> OF Justin Ruggiano</b><br /><br/> Ruggiano never got much of a chance in Seattle after the club traded Matt Brazis to the Cubs in exchange for the veteran last December. Despite decent plate discipline and ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy / Getty Images

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Former Seattle Mariners in line to play major roles in 2015 postseason